York pupils will get a chance to look into the future next week when they investigate ideas for the multi million pound development at York Central.

Students from Millthorpe School will be researching the site and how the development could affect the city as part of their work on 'Democracy through Citizenship'.

The year 8 geography students will interview representatives from a number of organisations which are involved in the development, including Councillor Steve Galloway, leader of City of York Council, and representatives from the Railway Institute (leisure interest), and Millennium Green/LEAF (environmental interest).

Rory Barke, the council's head of community planning and partnerships, will also speak to the students to highlight the link between the re-development of York Central and the local strategic partnership's, Without Walls, vision for the city in the future.

The pupils will be given a tour of the teardrop site by Jarvis, who currently occupy part of the area, and will visit The Deep in Hull to see how another major brownfield regeneration project has been developed.

As part of their work to engage other youngsters in the project, the students will also interview year 4 and 5 (8 and 9 years of age) students from Poppleton Road Primary School about their ideas for the future of York.

Sue Houghton, York Central project officer, City of York Council, said: "The York Central project provides a wide range of opportunities to actively engage young people in the planning process. The students today will have a long term interest in the project and by the time it is completed, many will be adults, possibly with children of their own, who may end up living and working in York Central.

"Even at this early stage in the development process, we feel it's important to raise young people's awareness of York Central and how it may impact on their lives."